5

'Where is she?' We'd been asking that every hour, almost every minute since we were assigned this case. Had an answer too, she wasn't here. I took the stairs two at a time and joined the others in the kitchen. "DiNozzo coming in."

"We're clear Tony, there's no one here. Damn it!" I saw Ellie flinch as Gibbs' fist slammed down on the table; she hadn't been with us long enough to know how Gibbs got when a child was involved in a case, guess she was learning fast. I knew she shared his frustration, we all did, we'd been hoping against hope this was where we'd find Kayleigh Hanson.

She's only six years old, they'd taken her two days ago during a school trip to the National Zoo; her dad's Navy; Captain Kevin Hanson. He got a ransom demand four hours later, only this wasn't your average cash for kid exchange, these bastards wanted information, classified documents relating to navy battle plans, and even though he loved his little girl, Captain Hanson would not betray his country. He'd called NCIS and we'd been working non-stop ever since, we finally got what looked like a breakthrough, a lead on where our two suspects, Barry Gomford and Phil Ashton, might be holding her, we'd headed out to the abandoned auto repair shop in Wheaton, MD where Ashton had worked for five years. Wasn't the first lead we'd raced out to follow, but this one, for the first time it had looked like we were on the right track. We searched but all we came up with was a geriatric lap top and an old newspaper with an address scribbled on the back page.

"Farragut Street, Woodlawn, looks like they're keeping things in Maryland, let's go." Gibbs was already on the move when he'd pointed to the computer. "McGee, see what you can get off there, we'll head out to Gomford's place, if Kayleigh's not there…"

"I'm on it Boss, maybe this antique can tell us something." He was already looking round for a power source as we raced out the door.

Gibbs had driven fast, not sure he knows any other way, and we'd done a forty minute journey in thirty; we carried out a sweep of the exterior before heading inside and doing a room by room search, all we ended up with was a fistful of nothing, and a growing tightness in our guts. Every hour passing could be Kayleigh's last, we had to find her, "Boss…what now?" I'd waited a heartbeat or two, giving Gibbs time to regain control.

"Now? We keep working, Ashton and Gomford can't just disappear…" I saw his expression change.

"Boss?" I knew him well enough to know when he was worried, and it wasn't just about the girl.

"Call McGee, if they want the computer they could be heading back to the auto shop."

I didn't need to be told twice, I selected Tim's number and waited for a reply. 'This is Tim McGee, leave a message and I'll get back to you.' I sighed. "Voice-mail Boss, I'll try again, you know how he gets when he's digging into the cyber-world." I hit the call button again and was relieved when there was an immediate response, I put the call on speaker.

"Hey Tony, did you find her?"

"Place is empty. Tim listen, they could be heading your way."

"Gomford already got here, he…he won't be telling us anything. I had to…he's dead."

"McGee, you okay?"

"Yeah; think so Boss…yeah. I have an address for you, got it off the laptop, a farm off Croom Road, Bradywine, been in Ashton's family for generations. I'll send co-ordinates to Tony's phone. You should hurry, Kayleigh could be out there."

"Okay, Tim, you call Ducky, and have him look you over before he gets to Gomford."

"Roger that; go get her."

The call ended and a shrill beep indicated the arrival of a message, GPS coordinates, I grinned, couldn't help it. "Knew he'd find something."

"Let's move."

NCIS NCIS

"You can relax Captain, they'll be here soon."

Kevin Hanson didn't stop pacing and his wife shook her head. "He's been this way since Kay went missing, blames himself because he wouldn't release the intel. I don't think he'll believe she's okay until we see her. Director, you're sure…?"

"She's safe Mrs Hanson, I promise. Special Agent Gibbs and his team are already in the building. Why don't you take a seat?"

Maggie Hanson's hands were shaking as she put her empty cup on the table. "No, thank you but…I've been so scared, until I see her with my own eyes…"

"I understand; not sure why I have chairs in this office, no one ever seems to use them." She half-smiled, but I could see she didn't think much of my attempt to lighten the situation. "Mrs Hanson, please believe me, your daughter is in the very best hands, I have a daughter and if…if anything like this happened to her, I'd move heaven and earth to have Gibbs and his team on the case. They are the best we have."

For the first time since they arrived it seemed like I'd finally got through to them, Captain Hanson even halted his endless pacing for a few seconds. The door opened and they got the moment they'd been praying for since Kayleigh was taken, Mrs Hanson took a step or two, then stopped, it was as if she couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing. "Oh my…"

Kayleigh was holding Agent Bishop's hand, looking none the worse for her ordeal. Maggie and Keith Hanson dropped to their knees, arms outstretched. Ellie let go of the child's hand and she ran to her mom and dad to be enveloped in their embrace. I felt a lump come to my throat, a family reunited; the job didn't get much better than this.

Bishop turned to Gibbs and Tony, her broad smile was matched by theirs, mine too I guess, Tony gestured toward the Hansons. "Feels good doesn't it Bishop?"

"Oh yes, never had moments like this at the NSA."

Keith Hanson finally seemed to become aware of the other people in the room and stood up, almost to attention. "You must be Special Agent Gibbs."

Gibbs nodded and shook the Captain's hand. "Agents DiNozzo and Bishop."

Hanson shook their hands in turn. "Kayleigh…she's our world. Thank you doesn't seem nearly enough."

"No thanks necessary Captain, we did our job, and it's our pleasure to bring your daughter home. Young Kayleigh seems fine, but you might want to get your doctor to take a look at her."

"We will, thanks again, all of you; you're right Director, they're the best."

I nodded in agreement and picked up the phone. "Pamela, have Agent Norris come in please." I turned to the joyful Hanson family. "He'll escort you to the parking lot, I'm sure you all want to get home." I shook their hands and led them toward the door, giving Kayleigh a quick smile as she looked up shyly from her father's arms.

"Hold on Director." Tony glanced at the door, I knew what he was waiting for, they were a man light and he was expecting the remaining member of the team to enter the room. "They can't go without meeting McGee, he's the main reason we got to Kayleigh so fast."

"Then we must thank him." Maggie Hanson, halted her husband's progress with a hand on his arm. "If he helped bring my baby home…"

I'd been hoping to avoid this moment a little longer. "Perhaps another time; Agent McGee…he's not available right now, but I'll be sure to pass on your appreciation. Ah, Agent Norris, please take the Captain and his family to their car."

With more enthusiastic words of thanks and some hugs for her rescuers Kayleigh and her parents were gone. As soon as the door closed behind them three worried faces turned in my direction, Gibbs stepped closer. "Leon?"